Archie Griffin credits all the people – family, coaches, teammates – he says are responsible for his awards.
The Agonis Club of Columbus honored Archie Griffin as its Person of the Year at an Ohio State star-studded event Wednesday night. But Griffin didn’t talk about himself. He talked about all those who helped him achieve great things and about how helping others reach their goals matters more.
Columbus, OH – For everyone in the building, the man in the plaid scarlet and gray sport coat could be this city’s Agonis Club Person of the Year every year.
They filled the large banquet hall at Villa Milano on Wednesday night to honor him with standing ovations, many wondering why it took so long. Jim Tressel, Tom Skladany and Ray Griffin were among several who took turns introducing him with funny stories and appreciations for what he accomplished and, more importantly, who he is.
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Many former teammates – Skladany, Griffin, Pete Johnson, Champ Henson, Jeff Logan to name a few – came to see him honored, to shake his hand, to be a part of his greatness one more time. Other Columbus greats Clark Kellogg, Buster Douglas and Michael Doss came.
This was Archie Griffin’s night, a night for close friends, acquaintances and fans to show their appreciation and remember his football accomplishments. But more importantly, a night to be reminded of the humbleness it takes to be great at anything.
Veteran columnist Jeff Gilbert writes Ohio State football and basketball and OHSAA sports for Press Pros Magazine.com. Follow on X @jw_gilbert
Griffin didn’t play football just for himself. He didn’t claim to be great. He didn’t have to. Two Heisman Trophys, the NCAA career rushing record at the time, 31 consecutive games over 100 yards, seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals are a few of the numbers that mark his career.
The statues outside Ohio Stadium and the Rose Bowl shout greatness in football and an unmatched legacy. He dotted the “i” at the home opener in 2024. Not many outside of the marching band get to do that. And all this by a guy they called “Tank” in little league football because he was chubby, slow, out of shape and started as a lineman.
While this award might seem like just another in a long line of awards, Griffin didn’t take it lightly. He knew how hard he worked to grow out of being called “Tank,” to become a star at Eastmoor High and to become the greatest college running back of his era. And he took every opportunity – in a pre-ceremony time with reporters and in his acceptance speech – to turn the focus from himself to those who helped him become one of Columbus’ finest.
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“I’m appreciative, but please know that things like this you can’t do alone,” he said backstage before the event. “I tell everybody all the time that I was in the right place at the right time, meaning my teammates. I wouldn’t be here without them, no doubt about it. I’m so happy to see so many of them here tonight. The coaching that I had, the people that I’ve met, it’s been awesome.”
The final introductory words were reserved for former teammate Todd Alles who was for more known as a high school football coach in the Columbus area than as a player. He didn’t play, but Griffin and others treated him the same as any other teammate.
The only two-time Heisman winner, Archie Griffin, bows to the crowd after dotting the ‘i’ for the 2024 season opener.
Alles, as others did before him, praised Griffin as the finest person they’ve known. When Griffin stood up to speak, he made a joke. But he meant what he said.
“That introduction kind of reminds me of the man that took his head out of grave and read the epitaph on his tombstone and said, “You know, somebody’s a terrible liar or I’m in the wrong hole,” he said.
After the laughter subsided, Griffin spoke about how his parents and siblings, and every teammate and coach from little league to the NFL, helped him succeed. He carried those lessons, his humble demeanor and his servant leadership into his life after football.
When he returned to Ohio State in 1984, he began in earnest his desire to pay it forward, a lesson he learned from Woody Hayes. Griffin became an associate athletic director, then served Ohio State further by leading the Alumni Association for 11 years until 2015. But his work for the university and the community did not start and finish with those jobs.
Along the way Griffin sought paths to pay it forward through philanthropic efforts, and it worked.
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“Not only did Woody tell me about that, but my folks always kind of preached that, too,” he said. “We didn’t have a whole lot coming up in the large family such as I had, but my family always did what they could to help neighbors and things of that sort. So it was already in the back of my mind. But Woody’s paying forward mantra just shouted out there and made me realize, ‘Hey, this is what you want to do. You want to help people.’”
When Archie Griffin calls and asks for help to find creative ways to help people, the people who are able to partner with him respond. After all, who can say no to No. 45.
At the 2023 spring game, No. 45 jogged onto the field, Kyle McCord handed off, the defense stood aside and Archie Griffin slowly ran 25 yards for a touchdown.
To make a difference, Griffin looked outside the football team to do it, to give those who go unnoticed more chances to experience athletics and succeed. Within OSU, The Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund benefits Ohio State’s Olympic sports programs.
“When I came to Ohio State and began to play for Coach Woody Hayes, the life lessons about faith, community, and teamwork took on a new chapter, but they were all part of the same book,” Griffin said during his speech. “Woody taught us all about the importance of paying it forward. He would say you can never pay back those who have helped you, but you can always pay forward to the next generation.”
Outside OSU, the Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation funds the athletic and educational dreams and travel programs for youth. He recalls when he played little league football he didn’t have to pay to be on the team. But none of those teams are free anymore, so the Griffins are making sure every kid who wants to play gets the opportunity.
“If I can help somebody by helping them pay a fee to get to play football, basketball, soccer, whatever that sport might be, those are things you want to do,” he said. “Give them that opportunity because they might realize that they got a skill that can allow them to do other great things.”
Maybe not as great on the fields of play as Archie Griffin. But maybe as great at paying it forward.
That would make him happier than anything.
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